Tag: dark

When Fig Coxbury buys a house on West Barrett Street, it’s not because she likes the neighborhood, or even because she likes the house. It’s because everything she desires is next door: The husband, the child, and the life that belongs to someone else.

My Thoughts

Sometimes I read a book from a specific author and end up not liking it. That once happened with Tarryn Fisher´s novel, The Opportunist ( Love Me With Lies #1 ), back in 2013. After not seeing what the hype over that book was about, I decided to not include the author´s works in my monthly Amazon shopping lists again.

I wasn´t a fan.

But sometimes, often years later, an author pops out a book that grabs my attention and I decide to give that author another chance.

`Bad Mommy` by Tarryn Fisher wasn´t the shining light I had hoped for.

Since I want to keep this review clean and spoiler free I´m going say that the problem with this book was a combination of everything and the lack of.

The writing was not close to what I´m usually used to. The topic was rather interesting but it was a bit off. The dialogue Not for me ( a problem I had with the author´s former works). The characters were all over the place. It seemed like someone left the gates to Crazy Town open. The emotions the story brought out in me and the overall feeling the book gave out was closer to negative than positive.

`Bad Mommy` is a thriller. I expect a tad more thrill when reading a thriller. I expect a story to pull me in and make me forget everything else surrounding me.

The story was indeed like a rollercoaster ride. Chaotic and flat. Confusing and long ( as in: it took me forever to finish reading.)

I´m sad to say that `Bad Mommy` wasn´t my cup of tea.

Would I recommend this book?No. Personally, I wouldn´t. I believe a book has to have more than just a flashy cover, catchy title and mysterious synopsis. A story that includes multiple personalities is bound to be confusing but this one takes the cake.

Would I re-read this book? No. I might even go so far and say that Tarryn Fisher isn´t the author for me.

The Cover – 4 stars ( The cover is surprisingly great. I like the vibe it gives off. )

The Story – 1 star( Too chaotic. Too flat. Not what I expected. Not was I hoped for.)

Gabriel Miller swept into my life like a storm. He tore down my father with cold retribution, leaving him penniless in a hospital bed. I quit my private all-girl’s college to take care of the only family I have left.

There’s one way to save our house, one thing I have left of value.

My virginity.

A forbidden auction…

Gabriel appears at every turn. He seems to take pleasure in watching me fall. Other times he’s the only kindness in a brutal underworld.

Except he’s playing a deeper game than I know. Every move brings us together, every secret rips us apart. And when the final piece is played, only one of us can be left standing.

THE PAWN is a full-length contemporary novel from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren about revenge and seduction in the game of love.

My Thoughts

I loved the title…I loved the tagline on the cover and I enjoyed the story.

It´s sexy, it´s dark, it´s…… sadly predictable.

It´s hard for me to give just one reason why I didn´t fall head over heels for `The Pawn` ( Endgame #1). Maybe it´s because I tried to relate to the Heroine and failed miserably. Or, maybe I´m not emotionally attached to a hymen anymore ( like the Heroine is / was ). It´s been a while since…. Well, you get the point, right? The importance of my virginity is long forgotten.

The story is basically about a young woman, Avery, who comes from a wealthy family and loses everything overnight due to her father´s crooked businesses. Having no other choice, Avery decides to give away her virginity to a man who knowingly destroyed her family´s name. Gabriel Miller.

This is where I heard an imaginary buzzer go off in my head.

She lost everything and the family name was ruined beyond means. Why not just leave town, grow some boobs and start new? Characters always have different life struggles to choose from * shoulder shrug *.

BUT, Avery decides to take the gritty route and auctions herself off in an exclusive gentlemen´s club to raise money so she can pay for her fathers medical care. 3…2…1 sold, to the lucky bastard, Gabriel Miller, a.k.a. the mysterious, dark, criminal / business man.

Once upon a time, there was a guy who got so fed up with life that he resorted to murder and mayhem just to feel alive.

Lorenzo Gambini is bored. So fucking bored. Most people either annoy him or avoid him, afraid to face him. Figuratively. Literally. With his face partially disfigured, scarred, he looks every bit the monster the stories make him out to be: the notorious menace they call Scar. They say he’s a sociopath. Maybe he’s a psychopath. Whatever path he’s on, people tend to stay far away from it.

Until one day, a young woman bumps right into him–a woman just as fed up with life, but for much different reasons. With a Scarlet Letter inked on her wrist and secrets buried deep in her soul, Morgan Myers is running from something… or maybe somebody. Lorenzo isn’t quite sure.

You can bet your ass he’s going to figure it out, though.

** ARC Kindly Provided by The Author In Exchange For An Honest Review **

My Thoughts

Dear readers, I´m in story heaven!

Bless J. M. Darhower, for that woman is one hell of a storyteller. I went through 346 pages of brilliant holy shitballs! Damn, what a story. `Menace` ( Scarlet Scars, Book 1 ) by J. M. Darhower has definitely earned a place on my sacred „Fuck Yeah!“ bookshelf.

This story is even more nail-bite-worthy than the `Monster In His Eyes` series was ( and I LOVED that story / series to bits ). `Menace` is brutal, unforgiving, captivating, unpredictable, dark, sexy as hell and filled with action. Exactly what I want in a book.

The warning is there for a reason. Although none of the dark elements disturbed me, I´m sure they could bother other readers.

Lorenzo „Scar“ Gambini, a twisted, ruthless killer / mafia boss gets bored out of his wits until he finds someone who brings the spark back into his boring world ( That, alone, screams „READ ME“ because which mafia boss ever gets bored?).

We meet Lorenzo in `Targets On Our Backs`, and even then I was 100% convinced that the passionate nutcase needed his own book. Lorenzo was so bat shit crazy and unpredictable, even I was terrified for the other characters lives.

There´s no doubt Lorenzo is one of the most mental Heros I´ve ever come across. He´s impulsive and completely disturbed and he can be scary as hell. On the flip side- Lorenzo is a clever guy with a heart hidden somewhere beneath the many layers of crazyness. He always has a good explanation for his actions ( and the explanations make sense * face palm * ). He´s just a super complex character you have to love ( no matter what crime he commits ) That character is so full of surprises.

Morgan / Scar ( Heroine )was just as out of this world cool. She has her own package to carry but she´s still a wonderful character. I fell in love with her from the start and loved her even more at the end.

I´m in love. There isn´t a thing I can complain about because this book has the whole package.

The writing is as brilliant as I expected it to be. The dialogue is fantastic. Have I forgotten to mention how in love I am? I have? Tough shit. I´ll say it over and over again just so you won´t forget it.

If you´re looking for something dark, something twisted and so full of everything then I highly recommend this intense read.

Totally re-read worthy.

The Cover – 3 stars( Yeah, I´m not a huge fan of the cover. )

The Story – 5 stars ( Scratch the 5 stars. I´m going for 20 stars!)

The Characters -5 stars( * Way cool. Like- out of this world screwed up but still cool )

My emotional state after finishing this read– Still recovering. But I desperately want to become apart of Lorenzo´s gang. ( That sounds weird, I know. )

It doesn’t take him long to draw me into his web, charming me into his bed and trapping me in his life, a life I know nothing about until it’s too late. He has secrets, secrets I can’t fathom, secrets that make it so I can’t walk away, no matter how much I beg him to let me go. I see it sometimes in his eyes, a darkness that’s both terrifying and thrilling. He’s a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything.

I want to hate him.

Sometimes, I do.

But it doesn’t stop me from loving him, too.

My Thoughts

I can hardly believe it myself but I actually loved Monster In His Eyes (book #1). What a fun and adventurous, dark and addicting read! Such a mind blower and panty dropping story.

With this author being new to me I had absolutely no idea what to expect ( except for reading the book description, D´uh.) So, I began and I couldn´t put this book down, even if my life depended on it. And now…I don´t feel any guilt what so ever because this story was worth every minute of my time.

Fabulous storytelling. The pace, the settings, the characters….all were far more than I expected.

There´s no beating around the bush with this one. I loved it.

A 100% non-predictable story. I swear…I thought I had the story all figured out after each chapter only to discover I was so far off * gg *. No. Actually, this story was in a way predictable. I knew something awful was bound to happen but I didn´t know when and how or what was going to happen. That was the worst part of it all. That…and the cliffhanger * head against wall*

Karissa Reed is an 18 year old college student. She lives off Ramen soup,( I personally LOVE ramen soup ) and struggles with one of her classes.

One fine day, she forgets something in the classroom and is confronted with a guy who´s drop dead gorgeous. But not just any guy. No. He´s mysterious to the core and he was going to change Karissa´s life forever.

Naz ( Ignazio) Vitale is a man who has it. Period. The attitude, the sex appeal, the language ( especially the body language….* sheesh*) He was frightening as hell with an attitude to compliment his appearance. So, I knew he wasn´t THAT squeaky clean on the inside as he seemed on the outside. He is death on two legs!

Anyways- Naz and Karissa come closer and end up in something like a relationship which consisted of Naz adoring Karissa to the bone and Karissa just wanting to be with Naz ( isn´t that just beautiful? * depressing sigh*) I began to get suspicious when I kept reading about how good/loving/caring Naz was. No guy has it all no matter how much he princesses a girl, right? Yes, right. I was right * proud shoulder pat* All is good with the main characters until shit hits the fan.

Dear Lord….I wasn´t prepared for this story at all. I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen. Something that would put me at ease or make me stop chewing my hair. The suspence was brutal! WHO THE HELL WAS NAZ and what was he going to do?

NOTE: the sex in this book isn´t over-the-top/out-of-this-earth, but it´s still good enough to need some cooling afterwards ( just giving you all a heads up). Decent sex…just decent sex. Ok. Telling myself the sex in this book was decent won´t make it decent. It was far from decent. It was sexy. DUDE! Find me a Naz!

This book will shock a reader in the best way ever!

Warning: Book-hangover will happen.

Double Warning: Nasty cliffhanger ( I absolutely hate cliffhangers)

Told from the Heroine´s POV.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants something dark, mysterious and angsty!

The Cover- 3 stars ( Yeah, it´s okay. Nothing fancy but still okay.)

The Story – 5 stars ( Heavens, this book is worthy of a re-read and a re-re-read )

The Characters – 5 stars ( Way cool. 100% loveable )

My emotional state after finishing this read: Spent. Drained. Exhausted… but I want more!

I´m giving `Monster In His Eyes` ( Monster In His Eyes #1 ), by J.M. Darhower 5 out of 5 stars

To Purchase this book all you need to do is click here and start reading!

Book Description

Sloan will go through hell and back for those she loves. And she does, every single day. After finding herself stuck in a relationship with the dangerous and morally corrupt Asa Jackson, Sloan will do whatever it takes to get by until she’s able to find a way out. Nothing will get in her way. Nothing except Carter.

Sloan is the best thing to ever happen to Asa. And if you ask Asa, he’d say he’s the best thing to ever happen to Sloan. Despite Sloan’s disapproval of Asa’s sinister lifestyle, he does exactly what he needs to do in order to stay a step ahead in his business. He also does exactly what he needs to do in order to stay a step ahead of Sloan. Nothing will get in his way. Nothing except Carter.

** Please note that the content of this book is more graphic than the content of other books written by this author, hence the distinction between the names. This title is recommended for mature audiences only due to extreme graphic content. Recommended for readers 18+.**

My Thoughts

Colleen Hoover. I´ve been a huge fan of hers since 2012 and have read everything that woman has ever published. From `Hopeless` ( which had me balling my eyes out like I´ve never done before in my life ) to her recent book `It Ends With Us` ( insert a million hearts ).. I´ve read them all. She´s been like the storytelling Goddess of romance for me. Her stories are a mixture of light and heavy, sending her readers ( in this case, me) on devastating, emotional rides that stick for a long time ( I have yet to recover from `Slammed`. That story drained the life out of me and had me in a funk for days.)

I read `Too Late` on Wattpad before it was taken down for publication purpose.

The warning above is justifiable. Even if this is a CoHo story it´s definitely different from the authors other works. Definitely written for a more mature audience.

`Too Late` was cool. It was dark, unforgiving, captivating, exciting, shocking and filled with tension. I love me some CoHo reads but this one is off the charts brilliant. Totally my kind of read!

2 undercover cops, 1 schizophrenic-obsessive-drug dealer boyfriend and a girl in between. WHAT A STORY and it´s told in true Colleen Hoover style!

I loved it.

I loved that the story had a 21 Jump Street vibe, I loved the twist of events that occured, I loved the heavy emotions, and above all…. I loved how the author was able to turn a normal thing like holding hands into something totally passionate ( The holding hands under the table was AWESOME) Oh. My. Lord. My heart was fluttering like crazy during that scene.

( Note: I´ve been trying to get my husband to recreate that scene with me but he´s doing it ALL WRONG! * sob *)

The end actually ended with a big ass BAM! Although it was a bit different from what I´m used to from the author I still loved it. Go big, or go home, right? Colleen Hoover left with a damn BAM!

`Too Late` is a mandatory read for any Colleen Hoover fan. For anyone who isn´t familiar with the authors work I´d advise you to start reading her stories because they´re definitely an experience no romance reader should miss out on. It´s romantic, it´s twisted, it´s kind and unmerciful, it´s powerful.

The Cover – 5 stars( It fits with the story and THANKFULLY doesn´t give anything away. )

The Story – 5 stars( Sheesh, gonna take a while to get that one out of my system)

The Characters – 5 stars( I loved them all but felt the strongest towards Asa. He was, by far, the most twisted mofo I´ve ever came across in a book)

MY emotional state after finishing this read– Recovery is going to be a mean bitch. Lol

I´m giving `Too Late` by Colleen Hoover 5 out of 5 stars

This book can be purchased through Amazon.com. Just click here and get your copy ASAP

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